Derobmi
Hatchling Member
I rescued a baby beardie yesterday from Petsmart. He hasn't been eating for about a week, he's lethargic, and he's very thin. One of his back toes appears broken and is turning dark. One of his front hands is generally bent under, so he is standing on the back of his hand.
I have a lot of experience syringe feeding, but never a baby like this. My usual method of getting the syringe tip in between the lips and moving it forward just isn't working - his head is too small and honestly, I'm afraid of breaking him. I've tried dripping it on his nose and he isn't taking that. I'm hoping that getting UVB and proper temps will stimulate his appetite, but I don't think he'll make it another few days without food - he's so skinny and weak.
He didn't have UVB at Petsmart and when I asked about the temps, my friend (who works there) said she could stick a dial thermometer in the tank to get the temps, so I'm assuming the temps were off. Currently under a new Reptisun 10.0 tube, 105-110F basking, on paper towels. I've tried feeding him Critical Care (herbivore), baby food chicken, and a mixture of the two with no interest on his part. I bathed him last night and this morning - I'm figuring on bathing him a few more times today after I grab some pedialyte.
Any ideas on how to syringe feed the little guy? Anything else I could do?
I have a lot of experience syringe feeding, but never a baby like this. My usual method of getting the syringe tip in between the lips and moving it forward just isn't working - his head is too small and honestly, I'm afraid of breaking him. I've tried dripping it on his nose and he isn't taking that. I'm hoping that getting UVB and proper temps will stimulate his appetite, but I don't think he'll make it another few days without food - he's so skinny and weak.
He didn't have UVB at Petsmart and when I asked about the temps, my friend (who works there) said she could stick a dial thermometer in the tank to get the temps, so I'm assuming the temps were off. Currently under a new Reptisun 10.0 tube, 105-110F basking, on paper towels. I've tried feeding him Critical Care (herbivore), baby food chicken, and a mixture of the two with no interest on his part. I bathed him last night and this morning - I'm figuring on bathing him a few more times today after I grab some pedialyte.
Any ideas on how to syringe feed the little guy? Anything else I could do?